Aneesa Strings

Aneesa Strings, a multifaceted musician from Oakland, California, emerges as a voice rooted in jazz yet endlessly exploring other genres. She picked up the bass at an early age, and at just 13, she recorded her first album, a feat that remarkably hinted at her deep connection to music, which she candidly describes as both a blessing and a challenge. After obtaining her Bachelors and later her Masters in Jazz Studies, her career blossomed in both local and global stages, touring with artists like Duckwrth and José James, and exhibiting a powerful blend of skill and individual expression.

However, Aneesa’s journey hasn’t been without its ambiguities. In recollections of her younger years, she reflects on her East Oakland heritage with pride but steers clear of glorifying it. It seems her family’s rich, intellectual environment lent stability in turbulent times, yet there’s a trace of uncertainty about how those early years shaped her uniquely diverse musical path. Teaching mindfulness to underserved communities, she commits herself to inspire others, but one wonders if she ever feels the immense weight of representation.

Her sophomore album, *WAYS*, released in 2019, drew critical acclaim, marrying jazz with social commentary in a sound both innovative and familiar. Aneesa continues to grapple with her identity as a Black woman in predominantly white classical and jazz spaces, asserting that this duality both empowers and challenges her artistic vision. There’s an understanding that her success speaks to broader cultural narratives, but it’s a territory fraught with contradictions.

Presently, she’s at work on a new album, aiming for a more produced sound that veers from pure jazz tradition. Aneesa seems eager to explore new musical territories, yet she continues to carry the burden of authenticity—her past experiences and newfound vulnerability interwoven into the fabric of her work. In a world that rigidly wants to categorize her, she stands, unapologetically, somewhere in between, still finding her own rhythm.